Photo Courtesy: nenow
Shillong: Sylvester Shadap is heading back to the books. The 59-year-old resident of Thadrang Umngem village in Ri Bhoi district is preparing for the Secondary School Leaving Certificate examination this December. It has been 37 years since he last walked out of a school building. He is now the oldest candidate among 9,767 people enrolled in Meghalaya’s Second Chance Learning Programme.
Shadap left school back in 1989. He figured his window for learning had slammed shut long ago. He said, "I dropped out of school in 1989, so it has been approximately 37 years since then. Honestly, I knew within myself that coming back for further studies was over." Now, he wants to prove otherwise to his family and other dropouts.
The program involves 171 learning centers across all 12 districts in the state. Officials from the Meghalaya government, the Meghalaya Board of School Education, and MPOWER run the operation. It allows students to study at assessment centers rather than sitting through full-time classes. In Ri Bhoi alone, 690 people signed up, including 185 at the Mawlasnai center.
Shadap faces a tough climb catching up to modern curriculum standards. He remains focused on the test. He hopes to clear the exam to open doors for vocational training or more advanced studies. By returning to the desk, he aims to push local adolescents to value their own education. He explained his motivation, stating, "Returning for the SSLC examination is to set an example for all the adolescents, starting from my own family."
Updated at 30th September 2026 at 10:00am
The program provides free self-study materials covering Khasi, Garo, English, Mathematics, Science, Social Science, and Health. These resources aim to help students who left school due to factors like financial hardship, family duties, migration, early marriage, or geographic isolation.
Officials clarified that there is no upper age limit for those looking to register as private candidates. The effort looks to push successful students into higher secondary education, vocational training, or direct livelihood options after they clear the test.
Updated at 30th September 2026 at 2:00pm
Macdonald Marbaniang, director of the MBOSE Shillong office, noted the high registration numbers reflect a deep-seated desire among former students to finish what they started. The initiative officially ties into the National Education Policy 2020, which pushes for flexible learning paths and a return to the classroom for people of all ages.
MPOWER manages the boots-on-the-ground work for the project. The organization handles community outreach, tracks student progress, and provides hands-on mentoring to help candidates keep their heads in the books as the December exam date nears.
Updated at 30th September 2026 at 10:00pm
Shadap left school decades ago when life took a hard turn. Supporting his family took precedence over the classroom. He admitted that he had buried the idea of finishing his education years ago, feeling he had left something unfinished behind. He never imagined he would get a shot at his Class 10 certification at 59.
The initiative finds its legs in the National Education Policy 2020. Officials are leaning on the policy to justify the push for flexible re-entry into the classroom. The goal is simple: ensure these students do not stop at the exam but move into vocational or higher learning tracks.
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